Paul Merson: 'There's no way back for Fernando Torres'

I’ve said before that you can’t write Torres off, that one day he would get it back. I don’t believe that any more.

Paul Merson

A total of £85m has been spent on these two players – and you have to say, for the money, neither of them has been worth it.

But there is a big difference between them, because while I still think Andy Carroll will come good, it’s over for Fernando Torres.

Carroll is young. He is putting a shift in and having an influence on games. He’s working his guts out for West Ham, who weren’t the ones who paid the money for him, by the way. They’re quids in because it was Liverpool who broke the bank. The Hammers have only got him on loan.

But Chelsea spent £50m on Torres, and he is just not doing it. I’ve said before that you can’t write him off, that one day he would get it back. I don’t believe that any more.

It’s sad to see how far he’s fallen. You watch him, and you’re embarrassed for him. He used to be one of the best strikers in the world.

Now he wouldn’t get into most teams. Torres was probably worth £50m in his day. Not any more – that day has gone.

How can you say it hasn’t? Unless there is a massive improvement, he won’t ever be back to what he was. Rafa Benitez admitted as much this week.

Is it just a confidence thing, or is it about your hunger? Lacking confidence means you don’t try certain things because you are afraid they won’t come off.

But you’ve still got to put a shift in. He’s not doing that. He’s not involved. I had great belief he’d come good but I’ve changed my mind.

It’s not just his own fault. I don’t think he’s playing in a team that suits him. He’s isolated on his own up front. Of the three who play with him, they never get that close to him in a game.

Also, of the three of them, only Juan Mata can thread the ball through the eye of a needle – and he got dropped against Fulham! Why would you do that?

Rafa’s had two games in charge and Chelsea have had four shots on goal. How is Torres supposed to score?

I can’t understand what Roman Abramovich was thinking appointing him. If you want to see goals, he’s the last person you’d want in charge.

Liverpool should have won the league when he was there but they bottled it because they were trying not to lose too much, to nick the odd goal when they should have been tearing at teams.

We could all do what Rafa’s done, go to Stamford Bridge and set that team up not to lose. Roberto Di Matteo did that last season and won the Champions League!

Chelsea don’t look like scoring, and I can’t see West Ham coming out, so with Carroll and Torres up front, I imagine it’s not going to be a goalfest.

Believe it or not, I don’t think West Ham play to Carroll’s strengths either. There are too many diagonal balls in for him to latch on to.

He can’t score from those. He’s their first ball when he should be their killer ball. They should play through their wingers, so he can get on the end of things, instead of being a creator.

I think things will be all right for him though. He’s young, he’s got time. He just needs that one outstanding game, and then we’ll see the goals flow.

But he’s in limbo at the moment. His future is unclear, and that must play on his mind. I mean, he could score seven goals between now and January and end up back on the Liverpool bench.

He should sign for West Ham, if they can afford him. He’s got Kevin Nolan there who can help his game immensely. There’s no-one better at feeding off knockdowns.

The one interesting thing about this game is the Chelsea fans. I have never seen a reception for a new manager like the one they gave Benitez on Sunday.

There was a lot less booing when they drew with Fulham, but if they lose 1-0, or even draw 0-0 again, the away fans won’t like it. There will be mayhem.

I almost think they wouldn’t mind so much if they lose 4-3, because at least they’ll have seen goals. But it’s been dire so far, and they don’t want to see it any more.

Chelsea fans have to be careful though. What if Abramovich hears all these chants of, “We want our Chelsea back” and thinks, “I’m not having this, after all I’ve done…”

He could walk away – and where would Chelsea be then? He was at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and didn’t look happy.

I wonder if he’s starting to think he could spend his money better doing something else.